Efforts to make ancient places and museums meet their visitors on a digital medium have been stepped up in Turkey as in the world.
Directorate of Communications built a special website for 1100-year old Akdamar Church as a part of its efforts to introduce the unique Anatolian legacy to the whole world, removing the limitations of time and space. Available in 3 languages, Turkish, English and Armenian, the website providing comprehensive information and visual materials is open for visitors at www.akdamarkilisesi.gov.tr.
VR videos and 360-degree photographs prepared using advanced visualisation technologies gives you the feeling of witnessing unique harmony of history and nature. Besides, Akdamar’s magnificent nature is presented to the taste of visitors through the lens of photographer İzzet Keribar.
Akdamar Church of the Holy Cross Photograph Exhibition opens
In addition to the web site built for Akdamar Church, “Akdamar Church of the Holy Cross Photograph Exhibition” organized by the Directorate of Communications was also opened at Hagia Irene Church in the Topkapı Palace Museum.
During the opening ceremony of the exhibition, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s message was read out. President Erdoğan noted the following in his message:
“We have taken under protection Akdamar Church, an important centre of faith for the Christian world and especially the Armenian people, with our historical consciousness and ethical duty of conserving cultural heritages. We have made diligent efforts to keep our common cultural heritage alive and hand it down to future generations. One by one, we have brought to light the monuments of Anatolia hidden in various faiths and cultures. We have regarded this as a wealth of our country. It is our greatest desire to maintain our delicate work with your support to bring our cultural heritage to the value it deserves once again. On this lovely evening, I would like to extend my best regards to you who portray the most beautiful photograph of our country’s cultural wealth.”
“We care for cultural heritage”
Director of Communications Prof. Fahrettin Altun made a statement about the project and said they were conducting multi-dimensional research and promotion activities to preserve Turkey’s rich cultural heritage and to increase its publicity.
Indicating that the first step towards these efforts was Akdamar Church, which gives important insights into the cultural structure as well as the sense of art and faith of the times it witnessed, Altun said the island and the church became one of the most popular destinations for faith tourism in Turkey thanks to the attention paid, interest shown and investments made by the state.
Altun expressed that they were also protecting other common cultural treasures of Turkey and they would continue to do so. He also told: “Anatolia is a mosaic of different cultures and faiths. The Armenian community is a part of this mosaic. We have lived together for centuries and built a bridge of friendship. We will continue to strengthen this bridge from all aspects and to set an example for the world.”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of “Akdamar Church of the Holy Cross Photograph Exhibition” Locum Tenens of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey’s Armenians Sahak Mashalian expressed his pleasure to attend this photograph exhibition, constituting the first step on the path of introducing Turkey’s cultural wealth stemming from its heritage of humanity to the whole world.
Photographer İzzet Keribar also expressed his pleasure for being a part of a project organized by the Directorate of Communications in such an important place.
Exhibition will be open for visitors for 20 days
Akdamar Church of the Holy Cross Photograph Exhibition will be open for visitors for 20 days.
